Special Review
This review was requested by Discord user The Rat King, Ruler of Alberta. If you'd like to join the server, click the button below. Visit DiscordBorn and raised in Brooklyn, Keith Miller is a writer, director, artist, and curator known for tackling racial issues. After making some short films in the early 2000s, his first feature was The Visit in 2006. He followed this with two more short films, The Fire & The Wood in 2008 and Prince/William in 2010. In 2012, Miller got his first massive exposure with Welcome to Pine Hills, which won numerous festival awards. The film won Best Narrative Feature at Slamdance and the Grand Jury Prix at SIFF, to name a few. Sometime later, Miller met a local man named James “Primo” Grant, a longtime member of the Bloods. Miller was so captivated by his stories that he cast Primo and some other locals for his next project. That project was the 2014 pseudo-documentary/drama film Five Star, which similarly earned critical acclaim.
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Rating
Synopsis
After being released from prison, Bloods gang member Primo (James ‘Primo’ Grant) wants to return to everyday life. He regrets being away from his wife and children and wants to compensate for the lost time. Meanwhile, a young man named John (John Diaz) wants to be a member of the Bloods with Primo’s help. It turns out John’s late father was the one who got Primo involved in the gang in the first place. While this happens, John develops a relationship with a local girl named Jasmin (Jasmin Burgos), and they hit it off. Despite objections from his mother (Wanda Nobles Colon), John agrees to do a run for Primo to prove his worth. Primo warns John of how dangerous this route is, but John is insistent on proving himself. It’s a tough life on the streets of Brooklyn, whether you’re a wannabe gangster or a Five Star.
Review
To get this out of the way, Five Star is slow and not what you would call “exciting.” This movie is a “slice of life” film rather than a dramatic thriller or a pulse-pounding action film. It’s about the daily lives of people struggling to survive in an environment that doesn’t offer many chances. It also shows how living the gang lifestyle isn’t as glamorous as some people make it out to be. On the one hand, you have Primo, a longtime gang member who wants to get out of the business. But on the other hand, you have John, who wants to prove that he’s cool despite the risks involved. Seeing two different perspectives on a similar issue and how experience can shape things is an interesting dynamic. It’s a great take on issues that aren’t often discussed in movies anymore.
Considering the cast consisted primarily of non-actors, everyone did a solid job, especially since they add to the realism. James ‘Primo’ Grant nails the part of an aging gangster wanting to get out of the life he once knew. John Diaz works as a young wannabe gang member who’s naive to the world’s ways and aims to be significant. He has decent chemistry with Jasmin Burgos, and you hope they make it as a couple. Wanda Nobles Colon also works as the voice of reason for John, who tries to warn him about what happened with his father. Keith Miller does a good job capturing the urban feel and making everything feel lived in. At slightly under 90 minutes, the movie feels padded and slow-moving, but it’s still a fascinating look at urban life. Overall, Five Star isn’t for everyone, but a particular audience will appreciate it.
Rent Five Star on Amazon Prime: https://amzn.to/3SIagMh.
Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
